Thread: Mid-Budget Grinder project

slacking on the updates, but, I honestly haven't done much!

I put in an order at Sunray for two wheels -- a 7/8" shaft drive wheel, and an 8" contact wheel.

I got an idler/tracking wheel and a 4" contact wheel from Midwest knifemakers supply.

Between the two orders, it was $244.08. OUCH. lol.

So, I started assembling...

Drilled & Tapped the tracking wheel adjustment parts:



I kind of put it together temporarily to figure it all out.



You can see how tracking will work. this is before I had some correct size bolts to hold on the pivoting plate... but, you get the idea. Basically, there is a tapped hole with a screw in the arm and I can screw in/out to adjust the angle of the tracking wheel.



I mounted the main upright to the base. The holes I had to drill into the main upright were really deep in order to tap them long enough for the screws I had. I ended up busting off a bit into one of the 4 holes I was drilling.. decided to just go with 3. It is insanely secure.

and my goodness, drilling and tapping steel is a test in patience!





Here it is as it sits now out in my garage.


I still need a few more pieces, some spacers to make sure everything lines up right and whatnot to slip over the 1/2" bolts. I've spent about $15.00 so far in addition to the sunray and midwest orders...

So..previously I had $269.10 available... I spent 259.08 since then.


all I can say is...glad I am just about done!

BUDGET AVAILABLE: $10.02

Wow, thats looking awesome Brad. That'll be a sweet machine when its all finished.

I've got to warn you, making razors is super addictive due to the gratification...you thought RAD & HAD were bad, you have been warned!

Looks like something coming straight from Mad Max beyond thunderdome.

Start saving up your pennies for belts

Its looking good!

Few more pictures...and a few more dollars spent on some small pieces of hardware









I was really hoping to be able to have enough cash in budget for my first few belts, but, I guess not

BUDGET REMAINING: $7.04

It looks real solid! I'm waiting on you to get it running to see how well it works. I have a set of NWG plans, just haven't started on it yet.

Very nice work!
Some comments: The instructions probably already specify this: please put a locking nut on the adjust side of the tracking mechanism. When tightened, that will lock the adjustment. You really do not want to have a belt go off track when you have your hands full. (been there)
And secondly, you probably already know this, use blue "Locktite" on all the bolts as you install them for the final use.
We had a foot switch on the "Square Wheel" belt grinder at one of my jobs. That was really handy. I would suppose that a foot switch with a variable resister could be adapted to the speed controller. Like a "Foredom" old style or sewing machine.
Respectfully
~Richard

I spent another $6 on a can of spraypaint, and some 1/2" i.d. spacers that I needed to get all my wheels to perfectly align.

I'll have to get it painted while I wait for my first order of belts to start playing around with it.

I have officially come in ON BUDGET. With mere pennies to spare.

$800.00, beginning to end..with a few things that helped along the way (motor, etc).

Unfortunately, my first order of belts is going to be just over 100.00, but, at least I can say that the unit itself has only cost me $800, which is a feat when you consider the functionality, and VFD. I will post additional pictures, and a video of the grinder running as soon as it is put together and I get my order of belts.

Even though the unit weighs over 140 pounds as it sits, I still am going to be on the lookout for a place that I can find a 1.5" x 1.5" x 18"+ piece of solid steel, to replace my tubular / holes steel tooling arm -- unfortunately, I could not find solid steel no matter where I looked locally. That will put me over budget, but, it will be a wise decision, as it will make it even more solid. If I hadn't wasted my cash on this piece to get the ball rolling, I imagine I'd still have met my budget.

BUDGET REMAINING: NONE!

i get my bars at the local welding and fab shop